Saturday Stages - Music & Storytelling

Compton Music Stage

10 AM Garrett Highlands Pipes and Drums – Kick Off on the Center Quad

Garrett Highland Pipes and Drums return to open the Festival’s 20^th Anniversary. The Garrett Highlands Pipes and Drums play at many local events, concerts and parades in the tri-state area. The group is sponsored by the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department and practices every Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the fire hall in Oakland. The ensemble is always looking for new members and offers lessons in bagpipes and Scottish drumming. The band wears the Colquhoun tartan as a tribute to its founder, the late Judge Fred Thayer.

10:15 AM Bear Hill Bluegrass

Bear Hill Bluegrass takes pride in performing traditional bluegrass and gospel, while adding just the right mix of classic country and comedy to please the audience and have fun. They play the familiar bluegrass, gospel and a few country songs that everyone will recognize, done in a friendly down-home manner on stage. The audience is involved with the band and the songs throughout the show.

11:00 AM Ken and Brad Kolodner

The dynamic father-son team Ken & Brad Kolodner weave together a captivating soundscape on hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo blurring the lines of Old-Time, Bluegrass and American Roots music. Regarded as one of the most influential hammered dulcimer players in North America, they’ve sculpted their own brand of driving, innovative, tasteful acoustic roots music with a “creative curiosity that lets all listeners know that a passion for traditional music yet thrives in every generation.” They are joined by bassist Alex Lacquement who locks everything together with his commanding presence and the dynamic multi-instrumentalist Rachel Eddy on fiddle and guitar. The quartet won 1st place in the Neo-Traditional Band Contest at the Appalachian Stringband Festival (Clifftop) in the summer of 2019. The Kolodner’s are at the heart of the old-time scene in the mid-Atlantic region, hosting The Baltimore Old Time Jam, The Baltimore Old-Time Music Festival, and much more.

11:45 AM Billy McComiskey, Rhys Jones and Richard Osban

Billy McComiskey, a Brooklyn native, plays the East Galway Style of Irish accordion music. McComiskey helped to establish the still thriving Irish Music Scene in Washington DC and Baltimore. He has received one of the highest honors a traditional musician can be awarded: the 2016 NEA National Heritage Fellowship.

Rhys Jones has been playing traditional Appalachian, French-Canadian and Irish fiddle music for 30 years. He learned from a renowned number of older West Virginia fiddlers. Rhys is also known as an accomplished banjo and guitar player and is always in demand as an accompanist to both Irish and American musicians.

Richard Osban is a banjo player and guitarist based in Baltimore, Maryland. He currently tours with projects including the Mount Clare Connection and Irish trio the East Coasters, who have recently released their first studio album. He currently serves as administrative director of the Baltimore Trad Fest and more. He is also the director of the Baltimore Irish Music School.

12:35 Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble

Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble presents a uniquely American story: conveying the power and joy of American percussive dance and music along with its multicultural roots in an exuberant fusion of live music, singing and a dazzling array of percussive dance. Celebrating over 40 years as a performing arts company Footworks has represented American culture internationally, including a Smithsonian Institution tour of Japan, and as guest artists with Riverdance in London. This performance is supported in part by a Touring Arts Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.  

1:20 PM Marshele Bradford Exchange

Marshele Bradford Exchange are four veteran musicians from Pennsylvania and Maryland. They will delight you with their special mix of bluegrass and gospel music. Laying down the driving rhythm on guitar and singing lead and harmony vocals, Brad Foust brings a diverse repertoire of songs to the group. Five-time Maryland State Fiddle Champion, Michelle Birkby-Vance, plays fiddle and sings leads and harmony vocals. She’s also penned several of the band’s original songs. Radford Vance, on Banjo, began his rich musical journey as one of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys. Together, these four established musicians deliver a captivating mix of old and new songs with their own original tunes.

2:10 PM Hickory Bottom Band

Hickory Bottom Band, a five-piece group from Western Pennsylvania, is making a significant impact in the bluegrass and acoustic music scene. They're celebrated for their innovative blend of bluegrass, country, and original songs, all while maintaining a deep respect for the genre's roots. The band's performances at concerts, fairs, and festivals are generating considerable buzz. They've also self-produced three CDs, which are receiving widespread airplay in major markets. Audiences are drawn to their tight three- and four-part harmonies, skilled musicianship, and lively "down home" energy. With their passion for forging new musical paths, the Hickory Bottom Band is definitely one to watch in the world of modern bluegrass.

2:55 Day Old News

Day Old News grew its roots from the old-time, bluegrass and Americana folk sounds that surround them in the Appalachian Mountains of Western Maryland. Band members are Jeremie Hamilton, Tom Bond and Sam Lauver.

3:40 PM Hildaland

Orkney (Scotland) born fiddler Louise Bichan and Indiana mandolinist Ethan Setiawan present a collaboration and meeting of their musical worlds in Hildaland. A path steeped in the fiddle traditions of their respective sides of the Atlantic, the journey taken wends through Scottish and American soil, celebrating their foundations while intertwining with contemporary composition. Bichan’s fiddle is a melodic foil to Setiawan’s counterpoint and harmonic depth, and the two weave in and out seamlessly.

4:30 PM Second Wind

Second Wind plays a variety of Bluegrass flavored, down home, back porch, good time acoustic music. Members include Roger Rounds, Mandolin and Vocals; Steve Yeash, Guitar and Vocals; John Diller, Banjo, Harmonica, and Vocals; Sam Lauver, Bass and Vocals.

5:15 PM Gilbert Lee and Ghost and the Radio

Gilbert Lee & the Ghost on the Radio is an eclectic indie-rock, roots and Americana band led by singer-songwriter Gilbert Lee Christian Cochrum. Since 2016, he has released a number of albums and EPs, both solo and with the band. A reviewer for HuffPost (2017) described Gilbert’s voice as “wonderfully clear and rich ... vaguely reminiscent of Paul Simon’s, but brighter and more lavish,” while the Music Street Journal (2018) described the versatility of his songwriting, noting similarities to a wide range of classic artists from The Beatles to Sade. Similarly, the band is noted for its dynamic performances, with members often playing multiple instruments, highlighted especially by the fiddle & trumpet work of Hanna Livingston. After a string of albums & EPs, their focus has shifted to singles--the two most recent being "Colored by the Stars" (2024) and "June Song" (2025).

Sowers Stage

10:40 AM The Time Travelers

Primarily based out of Hampshire and Mineral Counties, W.Va., The Time Travelers are keeping folk traditions alive through their powerful rendering of some of the most traditional tunes, songs and coal-mining ballads of the Appalachian region. The group brings four-part harmony alive.

11:20 AM Davis Bradley Duo

Kathy Davis and Bradley Bishop have teamed up to present a one-of-a-kind musical experience for everyone! They draw from their individual bluegrass, old-time and swing influences to create something magical, while remaining true to the roots of the music they love. Fans can expect to hear fresh renditions of the classics, as well as several original compositions, played on more than a dozen traditional instruments and presented in a historic context. This dynamic song mix has helped to extend their combined reach, holding the door wide open to welcome those in search of something new and unique!

Noon Ann and Amy Lough

Anne Lough is an internationally known traditional musician with over thirty-five years’ experience in performance and education. With a Music Education Degree and a Masters of Music Education Anne now devotes her time to festivals, workshops, performances, Road Scholar classes and school residencies. In addition to being a frequent instructor of mountain and hammered dulcimer since 1991 at the prestigious John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, Anne has taught at major festivals and workshops throughout the country, in Ireland, the British Isles and Belgium. Her daughter, former Frostburg resident Amy Lough, a regional dulcimer player featured in the Mountain Traditions Project, will join her.

12:40 PM Me and Martha

Me & Martha—husband-and-wife duo Don DePoy and Martha Hills—have been touring together since 2010, performing more than 3,800 concerts. Widely recognized for their authenticity, they have built an international reputation as masters of Appalachian Mountain music. With a repertoire of 750 songs, Don and Martha are dedicated to preserving and celebrating Appalachian music as a living tradition. Their engaging performances bridge generations, ensuring this unique cultural heritage remains vibrant and rooted in community for years to come.

1:20 PM Jeff and Myles Thomas With Madalyn Higgins

Father-and-son Jeff and Myles Thomas team up to present traditional Irish music. With decades of experience as a concertina maker and player, Jeff has nurtured a love for Irish music in his 13-year-old son, Myles. Determined to play fiddle, Myles began his musical journey at age 6. Recently, he had a busy musical summer attending the Baroque Early Music Camp in Cumberland and the Catskills Irish Arts Week in New York.

Madalyn Higgins began learning Irish dance under the direction of Maxine Olson of Scoil Damhsa in Weston, W.Va. Her career in dance now spans more than 20 years. Higgins’ style is rooted in traditional techniques and inspired by many Appalachian dance forms. As a new resident to Cumberland, she hopes to find more opportunities to pass on the joy of dance.

2 PM Appalachian Soul Man, Aristotle Jones with the Porch Pickin' Trio

Following the release of his latest Album "Mountain Doo-Wop & The Streets of Osage" Appalachian Soul Man, Aristotle Jones has earned national recognition as a Black Appalachian Storyteller fellow.   Mountain Doo-Wop & The Streets of Osage was inspired by his family's history in a small West Virginia coal town and features 9 songs that offer a reimagined context for the sonic landscape through various eras of the town evolution as seen. The Porch Pickin Trio joins him for this Festival performance.

2:40 PM Loretta Hummel and Paul Dix

Local musician Loretta Hummel has been delighting regional audiences for many years. Residing near Frostburg, she is a singer and songwriter who has recorded and released several music albums. An ordained music minister, she plays guitar and mandolin and performs various country, gospel and bluegrass music in the tri-state area and throughout the U.S. Hummel has won three international awards in the past year. In July 2022, she was honored with the ICGMA Gold Cross Award as Bluegrass Artist of the year in West Plains, Mo. Paul Dix grew up in Westminster, Md., playing mandolin and guitar. He has played with many musical groups in Maryland and Pennsylvania, including The Salem Bottom Boys, Maple City Bluegrass and Hummel. Hummel and Dix will perform her original songs and cover songs.

3:20 Black Guy Fawkes

Black Guy Fawkes emerges as a magnetic force in the realm of folk singer-songwriters, having been deeply rooted in the DIY music scene throughout his upbringing. With a unique and captivating sound, he weaves together the threads of heartfelt folk music and the raw, energetic spirit of punk to create a truly memorable experience for his listeners. Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of renowned artists, Black Guy Fawkes pays homage to the likes of Frank Turner, Bob Dylan and Against Me! while simultaneously infusing his own authentic voice into each song. This fusion of influences allows him to transcend musical boundaries, bridging the gap between the introspective nature of folk and the unapologetic rebellion of punk.

4 PM Smith & Roberts

Smith & Roberts is a duo with a longtime history of entertaining on the mountaintop, playing songs that cover a bit of the story of life in Appalachia. They have played for rowdy bar crowds and Presidential Inaugural Balls, music festivals and community concerts performing an eclectic mix of original songs and telling the story behind the song’s creation. Their song, Garrett County Time was chosen to be the official song for the Garrett County Sesquicentennial. Their third album with their band, Buffalo Run, titled “Bemused in Bruceton” was released in 2019. They are currently working on a release of ten new tunes and hope to have it available in the near future.

4:40 PM Pete Hobbie and Dakota Karper

Pete Hobbie and Dakota Karper are a father-daughter duo who embrace the heritage and traditions of old-time Appalachian music. Hobbie began playing music as a child, and in his teen years picked up the guitar. Through a lifetime of musical experiences, he has been influenced by rock, blues, Cajun, classical music and so much more. When he moved to West Virginia for the second time in the ’80s and started a family, he discovered a love for the banjo and mountain music. The Hobbie home was always filled with music. When Karper was 8 years old, Hobbie gifted her with her first fiddle, and she began learning folk music as well as studying classical violin through the Suzuki program. Now, as an adult, Karper has continued to pursue music and has opened her own folk music school in Capon Bridge, W.Va., called The Cat and The Fiddle where Hobbie is now learning to play the fiddle as well. Through the years they have performed as a duo, combining the haunting melodies of fiddle, driving rhythm of banjo and guitar and the earnest rising of their voices.

5:20 PM The Critton Hollow String Band

The Critton Hollow String Band is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary this year! With fiddle, hammer dulcimer, banjo and guitar, the band tends a stable of songs from the first settlements of Appalachia to the best of contemporary American folk music. These songs express a range of experience that can make you laugh or cry and occasionally do both at the same time and ballads that tell stories of bad men and disappointed lovers. The three members of the band – Joe Herrmann, Sam Herrmann and Joe Fallon – combine precise instrumentation, melodic interplay and three-part harmony to create a warm and engaging sound.

Chapel Happenings Outdoors

10:15 AM Frostburg Arion Band

Originally organized in 1877 to accompany a singing society, Frostburg Arion Band has participated in many interesting activities over the years. Today, band members represent an intergenerational mix of male and female musicians, each member attracted to the band by his or her shared love of the music and the desire to perpetuate the longstanding tradition of the community band.

12:30 PM to 3:00 PM Appalachian Storytelling

12:30 Adam Booth

Recognized in 2022 as West Virginia Folk Artist of the Year, Booth blends traditional mountain folklore, music, and an awareness of contemporary Appalachia to create story artistry. His cinematic style, both humorous and touching, is influenced by generations of diverse storytellers from West Virginia.  As a nationally touring artist his professional telling appearances include premiere storytelling events across the United States.

1:00 Bill Hairston

W.I. Bill Hairston is a storyteller, old-time musician, and pastor (Westminster Presbyterian Church) living in Charleston, West Virginia. He was born in Phenix City, Alabama, and his family moved to Saint Albans, West Virginia in 1960 when he was 11. Through his storytelling, Hairston combines the Appalachian culture that he was exposed to on the Coal River, to the African American culture that he is a part of.

1:30 Stories by the Score

In 1993, Katie Ross and her husband Otto formed a storytelling duo called Stories by the Score. Katie tells the stories and Otto plays the music. The pair won first place at the Autumn Glory Tall Tales Contest in Oakland, Md., in 1997 and 1999. Later, Katie went on to be the first runner-up in the 2004 National Storyteller of the Year sponsored by the Creative Arts Institute in Blacklick, Ohio. Katie and Otto have performed for the last several years at FSU’s Appalachian Festival, with Katie coordinating the storytelling events.

2:00 Mikalena Zuckett

Mikalena Zuckett’s love of folk tales and stories drew her first to writing. She grew up in Wheeling, W.Va., in a family that loved to gather and tell stories long into the night. During the 1990s, she returned to writing and had just completed her first mid-grade novel when she discovered the West Virginia Storytelling Guild. Soon she found these past skills and experiences coming together in new ways. She then began an odyssey to find her own stories and came up with tellings of folk tales, Jack tales, ghost tales, historic tales and personal tales.

2:30 Jo Ann Dadisman

Jo Ann Dadisman is a retired West Virginia educator and active storyteller. She realizes stories are one of the ways we learn, make connections with the past and see the similarities we all share. While tales of the Appalachian region are her favorite, she also shares stories from around the world, including folk tales, myths and legends, the tales of October, Christmas, Civil War and coal and many more. When children are in the audience, she includes activities that will help them to remember and pass on the story to others.

As 2024 Canadian Folk Music Award Winners, Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira are a dynamic fiddle & cello duo. Fusing traditional and contemporary music styles, they create a powerfully uplifting and soulful performance, weaving a rhythmically driving and textured sound. Complemented by lively stepdancing, they bring life and fire into original tunes, songs, and high-energy repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, North America, and Scandinavia. Each an accomplished musician in their own right, Jocelyn & Ellen first joined forces in Glasgow in 2018. Since then, the duo has been gracing stages and captivating audiences in North America, the UK, and Europe.

4 PM Workshop: Canjo Workshop With Jim Morris

Renowned instrument maker Jim Morris will teach workshop participants how to make and play a canjo, a single-stringed instrument with a soundbox made from a tin can. Morris is well-known locally for making instruments from salad bowls, frying pans, cigar boxes and just about everything else that can create a sound. All supplies will be provided, and participants are welcome to keep the instruments they create.